SORGHUM RESEARCH AND HUMAN VALUES

Abstract

Sorghum production and consumption conditions in many parts of the world are reported. Values, objectives and assumptions related to research decision-making are discussed in the view of plant breeding aspects, mainly. The implications as to sorghum research in the Third World are analysed, with the following considerations: the development of agricultural production systems approaches can bring about an opened discussion among scientists and farmers and so forth; better methods are to be achieved to evaluate the objectives of research before it starts; most of sorghum research was shared into various fields; and the trial to find out technical solutions for the breeding aims has to be reappraised, towards not assuming the yields as the only sign of success and the profits as the only basement for decision-making.